Nigeria has strengthened its growing reputation as one of Africa’s premier sporting destinations after securing the hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Beach Volleyball Championship, with the tournament set to take place in Lagos.

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The announcement was made by President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Mustapha Berraf, who praised Nigeria’s renewed commitment to sports development under the leadership of National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade.

The latest hosting success comes just weeks after Nigeria was awarded the rights to stage the second edition of the African School Games in 2027, further highlighting the country’s ambition to become a hub for major international sporting events.

“Nigeria has shown clear signs of emerging as Africa’s leading sporting nation. That is why ANOCA had no hesitation in awarding the country the hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Beach Volleyball Championship,” Berraf said.

The ANOCA President also commended the Federal Government for its increasing investment in sports, recalling how Nigeria successfully stepped in at short notice to host the 2024 CAA African U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta after another host nation withdrew.

According to Berraf, Nigeria’s ability to organise a continental championship within just three months demonstrated the country’s growing capacity to host world-class sporting events.

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko described the hosting rights as another important milestone in the Commission’s long-term strategy to grow Nigeria’s sports economy through international events.

“One of our key objectives is to strengthen Nigeria’s sports economy, and attracting major international competitions is an important part of that strategy,” Dikko said.

Director General Bukola Olopade also credited the recent successes to the Federal Government’s support for sports development, adding that discussions are already at an advanced stage for Nigeria to host Africa’s Olympic qualification events ahead of the 2030 Olympic Games.

If approved, the Olympic qualifiers would allow African athletes to compete for qualification spots on home soil, reducing the need for countries across the continent to travel to Europe and other regions for qualification events.

Prominent stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi East Senatorial District, under the auspices of the Kogi Progressive Stakeholders Forum (KPSF), have declared that they have no business in opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC stakeholders also declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The declarations were contained in a statement signed by the forum’s State Coordinator, Hon. Philips Sani.

The statement was made available to DAILY POST on Thursday evening.

Sani, in the statement issued at the end of a one-day meeting organised to formulate strategies towards winning the elections for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the senatorial district, explained that the president has done his best despite the numerous challenges he inherited when he assumed office in 2023.

The meeting was attended by notable personalities, including the Zonal Woman Leader of the forum, Mrs Florence Achoba, and the Zonal Coordinator of the forum in Idah Federal Constituency, Hon. Peter Egwudah, among others.

Sani noted that members of the forum had resolved to work for the APC because they have no business with the opposition.

He maintained that the ruling party provides the opportunity for sustainable growth and development, not only for the zone but also for the country at large.

He also described Tinubu as a reformer.

“Kogi East has no business being in the opposition, as the ruling party provides the opportunity for sustainable growth and development not only for the zone but for the country at large.”

Egwudah, while speaking, seized the opportunity to appeal to Tinubu to assent to the bill for the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre, Ankpa, which is currently before him.

He also appealed to the president to approve the construction of the Otuocha-Ibaji-Idah Road.